International Module W502 Thermal Environment Day 1

1. International Module W502 Thermal Environment Day 1

2. Emergency Procedures • (Insert appropriate procedures)

3. (Lecturers Introductions)

4. Group Introductions In 30 seconds- • Tell us who you are: • Where you work: • What your role is:

5. Course Aims To provide participants with a sound understanding of the of the effects of the thermal environment on people and the means of assessing and controlling the risks associated with thermal stress

6. Course Learning Outcomes • Participants will be able to: • Identify sources of thermal stress within the working environment • Understand the nature of thermal strain on the body • Make assessments of the thermal environment through appropriate measurement and other means

7. Course Learning Outcomes (Cont) • Participants will be able to: • Evaluate the likely risk from exposure to thermal stress • Suggest appropriate control approaches for the thermal environment

8. Topics to be Discussed • The Thermal Spectrum • Principles • Effects of temperature extremes • Thermal comfort • Evaluation of hot & cold environments • Thermal surveys • Control of hot & cold environments • Approaches to Risk Assessment

9. Today’s Learning Outcomes • Thermal Spectrum • To understand the range of thermal environments that humans work within • Principles • Understand the basic physiological responses of the body to hot & cold environments • Understand the processes for heat production & exchange

10. Today’s Learning Outcomes (cont) • Effects of Temperature Extremes • Understand the effects of hot & cold environments • Thermal Surveys • Understand the principles of measuring major environmental factors • Review different monitoring strategies • Understand some approaches to establishing the degree of risk resulting from a thermal survey

11. Work Groups • Each participant will be assigned a work group for the duration of the course • The work groups are expected to work as a team when evaluating in cases studies and practical sessions

12. Thermal Spectrum Source: University of Wollongong

13. Thermal Spectrum • Energy from the sun is fundamental to life in all its forms • Humans, plants, animals & organisms • Evolution has decided that humans are warm-blooded and their biochemistry functions within a narrow operating temperature range

14. Thermal Spectrum (cont) • Humans can be considered as homeotherms and attempt to maintain the body temperature near 37oC • A deviation of a few degrees can have serious consequences

15. Thermal Spectrum (cont) • In order to maintain the core body temperature within acceptable limits there is a need to understand and control those factors which may influence this process • As there is significant variability within humans the application of any measurement index or control approach may not be appropriate to all

16. Work in Extreme Temperatures • Humans work in extremes of heat or cold on a daily basis • Oil production in Alaska & Middle East • Mining in the Arctic regions of Canada & the high temperatures of Central Africa & Australia

17. Work in Extreme Temperatures (cont) • Other examples of work in extreme conditions • Refrigerated areas like cool rooms & freezers • High radiant energy areas e.g. foundries, steel plants, glass plants, coke ovens, brick plants & smelters • Outdoor areas where there is exposure to the sun or wind chill • Military activities

18. Work in Moderate Temperatures • Work in areas of extreme temperatures is associated with increased awareness with the local conditions & control methods • This is not apparent in more temperate climates • Hotter than normal conditions can affect whole production facilities through heat induced illness

19. Work in Moderate Temperatures (cont) • Reasons for these events include: • Thermoregulation of the body is normally within very narrow range & time is needed to adjust to an increase in that range • Workforce may have more at risk persons e.g. obese, elderly, unfit • Workplace not designed for significant variation in temperatures

20. Work in Moderate Temperatures (cont) • Activities in moderate temperatures where thermal stress may be an issue • Rubber vulcanising plants • Bakeries • Commercial kitchens • Laundries • Food canneries • Boiler rooms • Fire fighting activities

21. Case Study 1 - Bakery • Break up into groups and review the case study (located in appendix 2) • 20 minutes has been allocated for this review • A group discussion will be conducted after the exercise

22. Case Study 1 - Bakery Source: University of Wollongong

23. Principles

24. Principles • Heat Stress Net heat load from the combined contributions of work (metabolic load), environmental factors (air temperature, movement, humidity, radiant load) & clothing requirements

25. Principles (cont) • Heat Strain The overall physiological response resulting from heat stress

26. Relationship - Heat Stress & Heat Strain Source: WHO 1969

27. Homeostasis • Process by which the body keeps its internal environment (e.g. temperature, blood pressure, pH, blood gases) stable by modulating physical functions & behavior

28. Homeostasis (cont) • Dynamic equilibrium in which continuous changes are occurring • Process is controlled by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which adjusts • Breathing & metabolic rates • Blood vessel dilation • Blood sugar levels in response to changes caused by factors such as ambient temperature, hormones & disease

29. Typical Body Temperatures (Tc) • 46.5°C Highest recorded survivable core temperature • 43°C Tissue damage (brain, liver) • 41°C Cessation of sweating • 39°C The threshold of hyperthermia • 36.8°C Normal core temperature

30. Typical Body Temperatures (cont) • 35°C The threshold of hypothermia • 33°C Impaired muscle function, introversion, loss of mental alertness • 30°C Cessation of shivering and then unconsciousness • 28°C Possible ventricular fibrillation

31. Typical Body Temperatures (cont) • 26°C Bradycardia and Bradypnoea • 24°C Possible death without rewarming • 14.4°C Lowest recorded core temperature for a survivor of accidental hypothermia

32. 35.9 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.6 36.7 36.8 36.9 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Tc of 276 Healthy Resting Adults 60 50 Mean 40 1 SD Number of people 30 1 SD 20 2 SD 10 2 SD 0 Core temperature (oC) Source : Taylor 2005- reproduced with permission

33. Variation of Tc in Humans • Variation occurs not only between humans but within humans • Tc may be 0.5-1.0oC higher in evening due to inherent circadian temperature rhythm • Ovulation in women causes Tc to rise by 0.1-0.4 oC

34. Skin Temperature • Temperature gradient from skin surface to the superficial layers of muscle • Varies according to the external temperature , region of body surface & rate of heat conductance from core to shell • Determines rate & direction of heat flow in body

35. Variation in Skin Temperature • Thermally comfortable individual may have following skin temperature variations (o C) • Toes = 25 • Upper arms & legs = 31 • Forehead = 34 • Core = 37

36. Human Thermal Regulation • Behavioral change • Clothing • Changing posture • Movement • Shelter • Personal protective equipment • Physiological systems • Hypothalamus

37. Feedback Control of Body Temperature

38. Physiological Responses to Hot Environments • Vasodilatation (vasodilation) • Sweating • Electrolyte changes • Dehydration • Heart rate • Respiration rate • Other effects

39. Vasodilatation (Vasodilation) Venous blood returns to the heart near the skin hence increasing the availability of heat loss from the skin to the environment

40. Sweating • As body temperature increases, sweat is secreted over the body to allow cooling via evaporation • Eccrine sweat glands perform the thermoregulatory function and there are 2-4 million such glands distributed over the entire body surface • Major method of maintaining Tc in hot conditions

41. Electrolyte Changes • Sweating can significantly reduce electrolytes • Many organs depend on ionic gradients across cell membranes to support electrical activity • Failure to maintain electrolyte levels often results in muscle cramps & gastrointestinal disturbances

42. Dehydration • Sweating is a natural process to control Tc but it sacrifices body fluid to cool the skin temperature • For people working in hot environments the maximum daily sweat rate can approach 10-15 litres/day

43. Dehydration (cont) • Consequences of dehydration • Reduced blood volume • Impaired cardiovascular stability • Reduced physical & cognitive performance • Reduced muscle & general endurance • Elevated thermal strain • Reduced heat tolerance • Reduction in benefits of heat adaption • Increased risk of heat illness

44. Heart Rate • Heart rate increases with • work rate in order to allow an increase in blood flow to working muscles • vasodilatation in order to allow an increase blood flow to skin for heat loss • In hot environments, competition between muscle and skin for blood can cause exhaustion

45. Respiration Rate • Heat can be lost to the environment via evaporation of moisture in the respiratory tract

46. Other Physiological Effects • Prickly heat • skin rash from continued exposure to humid heat and the skin remaining wet due to unevaporated sweat • Fatigue • Heat stress can contribute to increased levels of fatigue and vice versa

47. Physiological Responses to Cold Environments • Vasoconstriction • Shivering • Piloerection • Cold diuresis • Respiration • Heart rate • Dehydration • Psychological • Other effects

48. Vasoconstriction • Reaction of the body to reduce heat loss • Constriction of the superficial veins in the limbs so that blood from the skin returns along the venal comitans close to the artery thus gaining heat to return to the body core

49. Shivering • Designed to increase the metabolic heat production within the body as an offset to a Tc decrease • In very cold environments (or cold water immersion) shivering can reduce fall in Tc but can also increase heat loss to the environment

50. Piloerection • Occurs when skin becomes cold • Hairs stand on end so as to maintain a layer of still air between body & environment to reduce heat loss